at any rate," said Glenarvan.

"Oh, they are neither lofty nor interesting, my Lord, and, beside,
they have been described already."

"Already!" said Lord Glenarvan.

"Yes, that is always my luck. At the Canary Islands, I saw myself
anticipated by Humboldt, and here by M. Charles Sainte-Claire Deville,
a geologist."

"Impossible!"

"It is too true," replied Paganel, in a doleful voice.
"Monsieur Deville was on board the government corvette,
La Decidee, when she touched at the Cape Verde Islands,
and he explored the most interesting of the group, and went
to the top of the volcano in Isle Fogo. What is left for me
to do after him?"

"It is really a great pity," said Helena. "What will become
of you, Monsieur Paganel?"

Paganel remained silent.

"You would certainly have done much better to have landed at Madeira,
even though there had been no wine," said Glenarvan.

Still the learned secretary was silent.